DESCRIPTION OF TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS
- AUTHORITARIAN
This is a type of government whereby strict obedience to the authority of the state is demanded. In this government type, oppressive measures are implemented to enforce social control. The government imposes its rule on its sphere of influence and consensus is undermined. In an authoritarian state, the process of decision making and freedom of choice is interfered with even in matters which would otherwise be termed as personal by other types of government. Authoritarianism expresses itself in different degrees and even some perfectly democratic countries could have it in specific matters.
Mostly, the ideology behind authoritarianism works under the assumption that the government has a good understanding of what is right for the country. It then goes ahead to implement its decision and this is often done with a considerable amount of force and in cases where opposing voices arise they are ignored or assumed to be working against the best interests of the country.
However, it is also possible that authoritarianism exists without any ideal of common good or a defined ideology. An example of such a case is in dictatorships, where by the dictator clings on to power for selfish reasons against the greater good of the republic or the nation.
- TOTALITARIAN
This is an autocratic government in which the state is involved in all aspects of the society and its citizens. It controls a wide range of matters beginning with political and economic matters to the attitudes, beliefs and values of its citizens. Although the ideological goals differ with different authoritarian systems, there exists various similar characteristics that cut across all totalitarian systems. For example, in all totalitarian states there exists an ideology that addresses all aspects of life and outlines means to attain the final goal. Another characteristic is that all totalitarian states have a single party which all citizens are mobilized to support. Totalitarianism in its purest form exercises total control in people’s lives and individual liberties are non-existent.
- DEMOCRATIC
A democratic government is one which exercises some kind of force mostly only in the political aspect of its people. One distinguishing characteristic in democracies is the amount of political liberty. In this type of government people have the freedom to discuss, dissent, vote, and persuade largely, free from the threat of force being imposed on them.
ACTIONS OR BEHAVIORS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN EACH TYPE OF GOVERNMENT
- TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT
Government officials in a totalitarian government control political, economic, religious, cultural and other personal liberties. Restrictions which are initiated by the officials are placed on speech, press, voting, protesting and the forming of truly competitive political parties, all which are indicators of the lack of liberty. The government officials plan and fix the elections in order to control the legislative assembly. They disallow other political parties from being represented or ensure that they have a majority while at the same time controlling the minority. For example, in the former East Germany, the ruling party which is basically consistent of government officials gave itself sixty percent of the seats and through the appropriation of funds and the ruling party controlled the other political parties. Government officials also unfairly influenced the leadership selection process of other parties thus further exercising its control.
In totalitarian states, government officials also control the economic decisions through centralized planning. A good example is in East Germany where the government owned the means of production. While it allowed a small percentage of private ownership, mostly family businesses, it restricted any real competition.
Religious liberty is not spared either in totalitarianism. The Russian Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union was a victim of this violation which led to its building being taken away and converted to storage facilities by the government of the day.
The government and its officials also severely injure the cultural liberty in totalitarian states. For example, in East Germany the government went as far as attempting to form public opinion by censoring the media and dictating what is “good” art and literature.
- DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
In democracies, governments initiate some force in people’s political lives. The only difference that stands out is the amount political liberty that the government gives. A good deal of political liberty exists characterized also by the fact that the government together with its officials give room for competitive elections and protests. However, this political liberty is not entirely absolute. Some limitations exist for example in the United states voting is restricted to adult citizens and only those who register to vote. Another good example is Great Britain government which has more restrictions, such as disallowing Archbishops and bishops from voting. Political advertising in radio or television is also restricted. Democracies also put in place regulations for elections and these have an impact on the competition. This has led to the argument that in the United States as well as Great Britain the major party that dominates the government make election laws to their advantage thus initiating some form of force.
- AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT
Authoritarian government initiates force in all areas of people’s lives to a considerable degree. The most force is applied when controlling political participation. There’s no room for any significant political liberty. The force initiated by the government through its officials ranges from arrest and punishment of people for their political beliefs to the repression of opposition parties and press. While in Bakadelia, Kelly witnessed the actual killing of one defenseless protester who was shot dead in the head by a police officer. Additionally, the torture of arrested prisoners can be a frequent occurrence.
However, in some authoritarian states, the government minimizes the violence against the opposition and goes ahead to have opposition parties and elections. The government however in this case uses other means to control the outcome of the elections and to maintain its supremacy for example by stealing the election for the ruling party. An example of this is what Kelly would later find our from Ted that although Bakadelia had elections, the outcome of it had been manipulated.